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bbc.com
'Without free meal, it's a cup of soup for dinner'
Community cafe in Boston says numbers rose from about 60 to more than 90 at the start of the year.
theguardian.com
The EU should fast-track Ukraine’s membership of the club – it has the most to gain | Mujtaba Rahman
Many EU governments oppose it, but the strategic advantages of swift admission could be immenseRussia’s war on Ukraine is now in its fifth year and a ceasefire remains elusive. The US’s attention is divided, limiting external pressure for compromise, while Moscow and Kyiv both still believe they can strengthen their respective negotiating positions through battlefield gains.At some point, however, a deal will have to be done. The parameters of that deal are already understood by negotiators on all sides. Russia will give up on its original war aims and Ukraine will make de-facto territorial concessions. The US will provide Kyiv with security guarantees to deter future Russian aggression and the EU will provide Ukraine with a membership path as well as help with the country’s postwar reconstruction.Mujtaba Rahman is the managing director for Europe at Eurasia Group, a political risk research and consulting firm Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Chip, chip ... boom? South Korea tech makers join the trillion-dollar club but some fear a short-circuit looms
South Korea’s Kospi stock market has hit record highs thanks to AI, but experts urge caution over boom-bust cycles and a heavy reliance on two chipmakersSouth Korea has leapfrogged India to become the world’s sixth largest share market, leaving equity markets in the UK, Germany and France trailing in its dust. But despite the runaway success, some are raising concerns that the Kospi index is too dependent on two freshly minted trillion-dollar chipmaking companies.Chip company SK Hynix last week claimed a seat in Asia’s trillion-dollar company club, alongside South Korean compatriot Samsung Electronics and Taiwan’s TSMC. Explosive demand for chips used in AI has propelled the trio past the valuation threshold. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Nicola Sturgeon’s ex and his £400,000 shopping spree
Fast cars, luxury watches – and, of course, that motorhome: the list of what former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell bought with embezzled funds is dizzying. Severin Carrell reports.As chief executive of the SNP Peter Murrell was an extraordinarily influential politician. Along with former SNP leader Alex Salmond he helped turn the party into an election-winning machine. And he married the woman who would increase its popularity even further – Nicola Sturgeon. Then came the news he had admitted embezzling money from the party – and using it to buy everything from toilet rolls and instant coffee to a Jaguar.At the weekend Sturgeon felt compelled to break her silence and give an interview to the BBC, insisting she knew nothing about her now ex-husband’s crimes. The Guardian’s Scotland editor, Severin Carrell, explains how the case is still unfolding, with a court hearing this week and sentencing this month. He tells Annie Kelly what we have learned about Murrell’s behaviour. “It was almost as if you had a teenager funding their entertainment habits and a lavish lifestyle on somebody else’s credit card,” he says. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Three quarters of workers not on track for 'moderate' pension income, report suggests
A newly-published report suggests a moderate lifestyle in retirement costs £32,700 for one person and £45,400 for two.
bbc.com
Puffin and bumblebee among 18 creatures shortlisted to feature on banknotes
The Bank of England is asking the public which animals should appear on future banknotes.
theguardian.com
Puffins, dolphins and bumblebees in running to feature on new UK banknotes
Bank of England says updated imagery will celebrate native wildlife while bolstering anti-counterfeit featuresPuffins, dolphins and bumblebees are among the wildlife that could feature on new banknotes in the UK as the Bank of England announces its shortlist.There has been controversy over the decision, with figures including Nigel Farage criticising the Bank for, he claimed, wanting to replace Winston Churchill with a beaver. The Conservative leader, Kemi Badenoch, said it was “a silly thing to do”, and Reform UK’s Farage called it “absolutely crackers”. In the end, no beaver appeared on the shortlist. Mammal options include bottlenose dolphins and red foxes. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Microsoft testing wearable AI gadget aimed at office workers
The company said its own workers are testing a "wearable access badge" and a desktop device.
bbc.com
Microsoft says new quantum chip 1,000 times more reliable than predecessor
The tech giant predicts it will have a quantum computer that can solve commercially useful problems by the end of the decade.
theguardian.com
Trump administration proposes 25% tariffs on Brazil despite US trade surplus
US claims world’s 10th-biggest economy engages in ‘unreasonable’ trade practices that ‘restrict US commerce’Sign up for the Breaking News US newsletter emailThe Trump administration proposed 25% tariffs on imports from Brazil, charging that the world’s 10th-biggest economy engages in trade practices that are “unreasonable’’ and that “burden or restrict US commerce”.Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said he received the decision “with indignation”. The Brazil president also blamed the decision by the US administration on his rival in October’s elections, Flávio Bolsonaro, the senator who visited Washington last week. The senator is the son of former president Jair Bolsonaro, once nicknamed “the Trump of the Tropics” by his allies. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
The BP drama will fade: boards are allowed to ditch the chair
Rather than a continuation of the company’s recent issues, isn’t this an example of the board doing what it is supposed to do?An easy narrative about the great BP boardroom drama runs like this: the plodding non-executive directors couldn’t handle the blunt ways of the hard-charging chair they had hired precisely to give the place a kick. Therefore the defenestration of Albert Manifold after only eight months in post shows BP is even more dysfunctional than thought.The best outcome for shareholders, on this reading, would be a takeover bid from Shell to put everybody out of their misery. In the meantime, continues this interpretation, Amanda Blanc, the Aviva boss who is the senior independent director, should let somebody else lead the search for the next chair, given how her last production turned out. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Water firm fined £1.8m over parasite outbreak
Four people were hospitalised and there were more than 140 cases of sickness and diarrhoea in Devon.
bbc.com
King told me Post Office scandal was 'dreadful', says oldest victim
Betty Brown says she is accepting the honour on behalf of all the victims of the scandal.
theguardian.com
Lego launches Pokémon ‘smart’ bricks equipped for interactive battles
Tie-up between blockbuster toy brands offers hi-tech play sets that will allow fans to ‘feel like the trainer’Many Pokémon fans secretly fantasise about being a trainer and that dream has become a bit closer as hi-tech Lego bricks bring Pikachu to life for the first time. And that can only mean one thing – epic battles.The sets are the latest to feature the Danish toy company’s motion-sensitive “smart” bricks that produce an array of sound effects and flashing lights when paired with different sets. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
New Danish government vows to resist Greenland pressure and tackle cost of living
Mette Frederiksen, who returns for third term as PM, says minority coalition will ‘improve everyday lives’Denmark’s new left-leaning government has pledged to keep pushing back against US pressure over Greenland and address the cost of living crisis, with measures including halving VAT on food and offering free public transport to young people.“We present a government that will help improve the everyday lives of Danes,” Mette Frederiksen, who will return for a third consecutive term as prime minister at the head of the four-party minority coalition, said on Tuesday. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
What Blair gets wrong about the economy – it is fired by people, not business | Letters
Readers respond to Jonathan Freedland’s article about Tony Blair’s vision for the futureJonathan Freedland says Tony Blair “would say you can only address [poverty and inequality] once the economy is firing. Maybe” (Tony Blair says he is all about the future – but his vision is woefully stuck in the past, 29 May). In fact poverty and inequality are the reasons the economy is misfiring. In the big economic crashes of history, gross inequality has been present.After 47 years, you would think that the obsession with supply-side economics might have been rumbled, but no: acres of newsprint are expended on the idea that incentivised businessmen alone can reboot the economy. There can be no animal spirits if there is no market to buy the goods. And things like people having to spend as much as 40% of their weekly salary on rent explains why there is no market, at least not without people having to get into dangerous and silly amounts of debt. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
How public-sector pension schemes are funded | Letters
Prof John H Arnold and Douglas Russell respond to a letter that said defined-benefit pensions place enormous pressure on public financesProf Stephen Caddick’s letter (26 May) on public sector defined-benefit (DB) pension schemes requires a response. There are five large “unfunded” schemes: NHS, teachers, civil servants, police and army. It is true that employers, and thus ultimately taxpayers, put in a fairly high employer contribution. But without a decent pension scheme, such sectors are likely to require higher levels of pay to recruit and retain staff, the cost of which would also fall on taxpayers.The £1tn in liabilities for public DB schemes that Prof Caddick mentions is misleading, as is usually the case with any assessment of pension liabilities outside the private sector. This figure (in fact probably £1.3tn) estimates the money that the government would have to pay out to cover pensions were there no income coming from workers and employers to support them – that is, in the unlikely scenario that we suddenly ceased to have any NHS workers, teachers, soldiers and so forth, but only those in receipt of a pension in those areas. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Short seller Andrew Left convicted of securities fraud in California
Federal jury convicts the securities analyst and trader, who could face a maximum penalty of 25 years in prisonSign up for the Breaking News US newsletter emailA federal jury in California has convicted short seller Andrew Left of securities fraud.Left, who was a securities analyst, trader and guest commentator on television channels including CNBC and Fox Business, was charged in July 2024 with one count of engaging in a securities fraud scheme, 17 counts of securities fraud and one count of making false statements to federal investigators. As a short seller, Left would make money betting that stocks would fall. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
South West Water fined £1.85m over parasite outbreak in Devon
Utility company pleaded guilty to criminal offence of supplying water unfit for humans‘My son is still suffering’: the ill effects of water contamination in ‘Brixham incident’A utility company has been fined £1.85m for supplying water unfit for human consumption after a parasite outbreak made hundreds of people sick and forced thousands of households to boil their water.South West Water (SWW) pleaded guilty to the criminal offence relating to a cryptosporidiosis outbreak in Brixham, Devon, in the spring and summer of 2024. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘My son is still suffering’: the ill effects of water contamination in ‘Brixham incident’
Physical and psychological impacts of a tap water parasite outbreak continue to be felt in south DevonSouth West Water fined £1.85m over parasite outbreak in DevonMost of the tourists milling around the busy fishing harbour or visiting Agatha Christie’s riverside holiday retreat have probably forgotten what South West Water euphemistically calls the “Brixham incident”.But for residents at the centre of the “incident” – a parasite outbreak that caused perhaps hundreds of people in south Devon to fall ill after they drank contaminated water – the physical and psychological impacts are still keenly felt. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Debt-ridden graduates seen as ‘cash cows’ to fund older people’s lifestyles, MPs told
Student groups tell inquiry about ballooning debt and ‘sneaky changes’ to loan terms while likening system to finance scandalsGraduates saddled with ballooning student loan debts feel they are being unfairly used as “cash cows” to finance measures benefiting older people such as the state pension triple lock, MPs have been told.Student representatives told an official inquiry about the “harrowing” plight of many young people, while the man who led the 2019 government review into post-18 education criticised the “almost sneaky” changes to loan terms, and appeared to compare the situation facing graduates with the car finance and payment protection insurance (PPI) mis-selling scandals. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Six US states sue Trump administration over deal to kill windfarm project
State attorneys general argue $1bn deal to terminate major offshore wind lease off the coast of New York is unlawfulSix states sued the Trump administration on Tuesday over its decision to cancel a major offshore wind lease off the coast of New York.In March, federal officials announced they would pay nearly $1bn in taxpayer dollars to French energy firm TotalEnergies in exchange for the company killing plans to erect two offshore windfarms off New York and North Carolina. TotalEnergies agreed to terminate the projects and pledged not to develop any new offshore wind projects in the United States, while investing hundreds of millions of dollars in oil and gas projects. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Zero-hours contracts: ministers’ detailed plans for UK ban criticised by firms and unions
Government says it would prefer workers to be guaranteed between eight and 20 hours a week based on regular hoursMinisters are facing criticism from unions and employers after laying out details of plans for a guaranteed regular working week as part of a ban on zero-hours contracts.Under rules poised to come into force next year, employers will have to offer staff on zero hours or “short hours” contracts, including agency workers, a minimum number of hours each week based on their regular working hours. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
There are thousands of dirty old drill sites in Colorado. The state gave oil firms a $1bn pass
Investigation reveals regulator let firms off the hook on cleanup bonds despite backlog that will take decades to clearWhen Christiaan van Woudenberg moved to Erie, Colorado, in 2007, he never imagined he would become an anti-fracking activist. He simply thought he was buying his dream home – a four-bedroom with a panoramic mountain view, 30 minutes north of downtown Denver.Then, in 2014, the drilling started. Oil and gas rigs sprang up, some just 800ft (240m) from his bedroom window. The dream turned to nightmare: loud noises rumbled all night long, and the air stank like exhaust. Neighbors started getting headaches and nosebleeds, and Van Woudenberg developed new respiratory issues. He kept his windows shut and worried about his daughters going outside. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Anthropic surges as OpenAI struggles to keep up
Stock market filing illustrates AI company’s meteoric rise, while California’s tech billionaires pour cash into elections Hello, and welcome to TechScape. I’m your host, Blake Montgomery, US tech editor at the Guardian. This week in tech, we’re discussing Anthropic’s meteoric rise, both theological and financial, and California’s unprecedented infusion of political cash from Silicon Valley.‘Like a billionaire on acid’: Star Wars director Gareth Edwards comes out in favour of AITo YouTube and beyond: how online gen Z directors stormed Hollywood Continue reading...
theguardian.com
How England’s largest forest went from commodity to conservation haven
Kielder in Northumberland is balancing commercial production with conserving peatland and rare plants and animalsDriving through part of Northumberland, you might look around at the tall Sitka spruce and imagine yourself in Canada’s evergreen forests, or perhaps, on a sunny day, in northern California. Instead, you are in England’s largest forest, Kielder, often heralded as a success story that balances commercial production with ambitious conservation.The first trees of this 60,000-hectare forest were planted 100 years ago with one aim: increasing Britain’s timber reserves. Much has changed since then. From a single-use plantation, Kielder Forest has been transformed into a haven for nature and an invaluable environmental asset. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Third of people say uni degree not worth it, as student loan inquiry begins
MPs will hear the concerns of graduates about the size of their student debts, and the interest rates.
theguardian.com
Will the AI economy create a permanent underclass?
From India and Africa to Europe, countries not yet in the AI supply chain risk mass job losses, losing the tax revenue needed to deal with the tech’s falloutBusiness live – AI to drive up UK youth unemploymentThe San Francisco Bay Area is in the midst of an AI frenzy that makes the California gold rush of the mid-19th century look like a scavenger hunt. Top programmers and developers are being offered compensation packages worth hundreds of millions of dollars to switch firms, while young engineers lucky enough to have joined leading AI startups early are contemplating retirement before age 35.Driving up the Bayshore Freeway from San Francisco International airport into the city, you pass hyper-specific billboards advertising obscure AI applications seemingly aimed at absurdly niche audiences. How can that possibly be profitable? The answer is that in a city crawling with startups, getting the right software product in front of a founder whose company could soon be worth billions of dollars is far more lucrative than using billboard space to sell burgers or laundry detergent. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Democrats oppose Trump officials’ effort to include crypto in 401(k) plans
Change backed by labor department would expose workers to greater financial risk, letter shared with Guardian saysCongressional Democrats are strongly opposing a US Department of Labor proposal that would allow 401(k) investments to include cryptocurrency, private credit and private equity assets, arguing the change will expose workers to riskier and more complex investments.In a letter shared exclusively with the Guardian, Senator Bernie Sanders, Senator Elizabeth Warren and House education and workforce committee ranking member Bobby Scott of Virginia, argued the rule would expose an estimated $14.2tn of 401(k) retirement savings to volatile assets and would probably not withstand a challenge in court. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Instagram AI chatbot tricked by hackers to give access to others' accounts
Some reports have linked the incident to recent cases of high-profile Instagram accounts being hijacked.
theguardian.com
BP backs Amanda Blanc to lead search for new chair despite investor concerns
Senior independent director to handle process again after Albert Manifold’s shock departure last weekBP has backed Amanda Blanc to lead its search for a new chair for a second time, shrugging off investor concerns over her role at the company after the shock departure of its chair last week.Some shareholders have voiced concerns over Blanc, the senior independent director at the British oil company, running the process again after Albert Manifold’s short stint as chair. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
How will AI sycophancy change us? Early signs are not encouraging | Arwa Mahdawi
Constant validation and flattery from AI chatbots poses a serious risk to society and our shared grasp of realityDo you ever get the feeling that the people running the world are delulu? That the 1% are living in a completely different universe from the rest of us? You’re not the only one. Even some tech elites are starting to worry about their peers’ grasp on reality. “CEOs are uniquely prone to AI psychosis,” Aaron Levie, a co-founder of the enterprise cloud company Box, declared on X last month. His reasoning for this? “They’re sufficiently distant from the last mile of work that still has to happen to generate most value with AI. So when they play with AI, they see the happy path results, often not considering the next 10 or 20 things that have to happen to get sustainable results from agents.”In other words: CEOs are so high up the food chain that they don’t understand the human labour that goes into turning an error-riddled AI creation into something that functions properly in a business context. They are desperate to replace their annoying and expensive human labour with compliant AI models, but grossly overestimate what the technology can do. Meanwhile, the industry is rushing out overhyped AI solutions without properly stress-testing them. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Post Office scandal victim dedicates OBE to 'sub-postmasters we have lost'
The 92-year-old said she dedicate the OBE to 'all sub-postmasters we have lost'.
bbc.com
China goes after 'ghost kitchens' to rein in cut-throat food delivery apps
The thousands of "ghost kitchens" - online shops that don't actually exist - have spooked Chinese consumers.
bbc.com
AI giant Anthropic plans to sell shares in US as valuation nears $1tn
The AI company behind Claude is set to offer the public the chance to buy and sell shares in the firm later this year.
bbc.com
Steph Curry signs with Chinese brand after Under Armour split
Chinese firms have been vying to secure deals with big stars as they push to become global brands.
theguardian.com
I surrendered my driving licence after a spinal injury but the DVLA revoked it
Although I voluntarily handed in the licence, the agency’s action has made it far harder for me to get it backI suffered a spinal cord injury in August 2024. I voluntarily surrendered my driving licence to the DVLA, only for it to revoke it instead. This makes it much, much harder to get it back later on.I’ve since been told that I need to take a medical driving assessment to get the licence back, but I am unable to take one because I do not have a licence. I am now on my third application, with evidence from my spinal consultant and an off-road driving assessment confirming that I can drive with hand controls. This was submitted two months ago, and the DVLA still can’t update me. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Orbán’s oligarchs on edge as Hungary poised to launch wealth tax
New PM Péter Magyar calls policy a sign of ‘social justice’ after years of political loyalty being rewarded with economic opportunityIn a dimly lit television studio, one of Hungary’s richest men is on the verge of tears. It is early May, weeks after the general election that ended Viktor Orbán’s 16-year grip on power, and the advertising mogul Gyula Balásy has an announcement to make.Balásy tells the interviewer that he has just surrendered his businesses to the state, along with a chunk of his private savings. He has even brought along a notarised deed – a legal document setting out the change of ownership. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Despite what the UK right will tell you, appeasing bond markets has actually led to instability | Andy Beckett
Austerity has benefitted bond traders but impoverished British society and led to the rise of populism. Is it right that we carry on adhering to their interests?Should politics always be dominated by economics? Should questions about how governments and voters pay for things – whether by earnings, taxes or borrowing – be settled before we consider the wider consequences?In an anxious capitalist democracy such as Britain, with a modern history of patchy economic success and intermittent but recurring crises over public debt, the answer may seem obvious: governments and voters always need to behave in ways that fit with the market forces that shape our economy.Andy Beckett is a Guardian columnist Continue reading...
bbc.com
London Tube strikes go ahead after talks fail
Members of the RMT union are on strike on Tuesday in a row over working hours, with further action planned for Thursday.
theguardian.com
Playground no more: Thais sick of badly behaved tourists hail stricter visas
Government cites crime and drunken antics of foreigners as it shortens their stays – with ordinary Thais welcoming the crackdownIt’s late afternoon at Bangkok’s Khaosan road, the city’s backpacker strip. Bar staff are calling after passersby, enticing them inside with drinks promotions. The smell of cannabis, widely sold in the city, wafts into the street, where vendors sell anything from fake tattoos, flip-flops and icy fruit shakes.This street, and its famously noisy nightlife, has attracted visitors from around the world for decades. But increasingly, some in Thailand are growing tired of the country’s party-loving visitors. Continue reading...
bbc.com
How 'confused' AI rollout hurts firms and baffles staff
Some firms are putting pressure on staff to use AI, but have not thought through their AI rollout.
theguardian.com
Sadiq Khan vows to overrule residents’ group’s objections to Soho bars and restaurants
London mayor says Soho Society’s decision to challenge all new licensing applications is ‘bad’ for citySadiq Khan, the London mayor, has suggested he will overrule a residents’ society that has vowed to challenge all new applications for pubs and restaurants in Soho.The Guardian revealed last week that the Soho Society, a residents’ group established in 1972 aimed at “preserving the character of Soho”, voted for a new licensing mandate, meaning it will challenge all new applications for bars and restaurants in the area, including renewals of existing licences. Continue reading...
bbc.com
OpenAI let ChatGPT aid and abet mass shooters, Florida lawsuit claims
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier alleges OpenAI and boss Sam Altman built a 'web of deceit'
bbc.com
UK banks blocked from cyber AI tool Mythos get offer from rival OpenAI
Nine banks have been offered access to GPT 5.5 Cyber, as fierce rival Anthropic has blocked previews of its tool.
bbc.com
Wise under investigation over money laundering control concerns
Wise says it is working with the Brussels prosecutor's office but that "no specific findings have been shared with us to date".
theguardian.com
Trump insists Iran deal close despite strikes – The Latest
As Israel threatens to bomb Beirut and the US and Iran trade missile strikes, Donald Trump insists it will ‘all work out well in the end’ and urges his critics to ‘sit back and relax’. So are we any closer to a deal? Lucy Hough speaks to diplomatic editor Patrick Wintour – watch on YouTube Continue reading...
theguardian.com
UK house prices fall for first time this year amid rising mortgage rates
Nationwide finds typical price was £278,024 in May, as Savills says Iran war has ‘fundamentally changed’ outlookBusiness live – latest updatesHouse prices fell in the UK for the first time this year in May, as rising interest rates triggered by the war in Iran hurt homebuyer demand.The price of the average UK home dropped 0.6% in May compared with the month before, according to the lender Nationwide. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Abusive passengers could be blacklisted from all airlines under new proposal
The scheme would allow airlines to share information on disruptive passengers and potentially restrict their access to flights.
theguardian.com
‘Catastrophic for creative industries’: Brexit barriers shut UK actors out of EU jobs
Casting shifts to EU talent as paperwork delays and visa limits make hiring British crews less viableFrom blacklists for UK passport holders to being asked to work illegally while on holiday, the plethora of extra costs and red tape thrown up post-Brexit are restricting opportunities for British actors seeking work in the EU.Mainland Europe has always been a springboard for those in the creative industries, from gaining crucial first credits on a TV, film or theatre production to building a marketable resume and paying the bills while attempting to make it big in the UK or US. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
French navy boards Russia-linked oil tanker in Atlantic – video
France has released footage that appears to show French naval commandos boarding a ship suspected of being part of Russia's 'shadow fleet' and subject to international sanctions. The French president, Emmanuel Macron, said the operation took place on the tanker, named the Tagor, with support of the UK and in strict compliance with the law of the sea. The French navy confirmed the interception occurred on SundayMacron says French navy has boarded Russia-linked oil tanker in Atlantic Continue reading...
bbc.com
What's happening to UK petrol and diesel prices?
Motoring group RAC warns pump prices could keep rising if there is no resolution to the Iran war.
bbc.com
Nvidia announces new AI chip for personal computers
The technology giant's boss Jensen Huang called the move the "reinvention of the computer".
theguardian.com
‘Where are the jobs?’: as US autoworkers face offshoring, Democrats vie to win votes
Workers who voted for Trump and Republicans in recent elections are now being hit with offshoring and the impacts of tariffs – but can Democrats sway them?Brenda Davis, a retiree who worked at Ford in Ohio for more than 20 years, was dismayed to learn that a new Buick she bought from General Motors was manufactured entirely in China. Foreign vehicles are strongly discouraged from parking lots at autoworkers’ facilities, as they serve as a reminder of the ongoing threat outsourcing poses to their livelihoods.Morgan Hughes, who currently works at the General Motors assembly plant in Springfield, Ohio, is worried about the impact tariffs have had on her plant’s dwindling workload and its recent sale to a different owner, as concerns over a plant closure have loomed over the factory for years. Continue reading...
bbc.com
EasyJet says possible takeover bid 'opportunistic'
US investment firm Castlelake is considering making an offer for the budget airline.
bbc.com
Put a £5 deposit on vapes to stop fires, say waste companies
The industry body for waste companies says a refundable deposit would help boost vape recycling, but others disagree.
theguardian.com
‘Cheap’ parking at Stansted airport cost me hundreds of pounds
We left our car at the short-stay car park after paying £66 for a one-week ‘meet and greet’ service I have ended up hundreds of pounds out of pocket after paying £66 for a week’s parking at Stansted airport.I booked through the website compareairportparkings.co.uk for our car to be collected at the short-stay car park, parked off-site while we were away, and then returned to us at the short stay. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Home care workers face fuel cost spike fears
Home care workers must be paid for their mileage and travel time, a Sheffield-based carer says.
bbc.com
A year of grief after Air India crash: What remains when a plane falls from the sky
A mother still speaks about her son who died in the crash in the present tense and a brother waits for answers.
bbc.com
Secret tunnels and unregistered workers: China's coal mine disaster is a reminder of darker days
China's worst coal mining disaster in 15 years comes amid an ambitious pivot towards green energy.
bbc.com
Caribbean hot sauce producers warn of shortages and higher prices
Manufacturers in Jamaica say the key chilli peppers they need are in limited supply.
bbc.com
Why is Lidl opening a pub?
The debate about about what seems like a bizarre idea of having a cold pint after exploring the store's well known middle aisle.
theguardian.com
This model is not a real person: how AI is changing online shopping – video
From digital twins to models ‘sculpted’ by programmers, generative AI has been popping up all over the fashion industry. When an Australian e-commerce retailer started using AI-generated models to sell products, lifestyle editor Alyx Gorman had to see if the garments were more than mere pixels.The Iconic, which sells the dress worn in this video, said in a statement: ‘Where AI-generated imagery is used to advertise products for sale on our platform, our expectation is that it is clearly labelled and that the product itself is represented as accurately as possible for customers.’ Meanwhile, Atoir, the designer, said: ‘The Australian fashion industry is highly competitive, particularly for independent brands. We believe that when used responsibly, tools like this can help smaller businesses to operate with greater agility while still maintaining the creative standards and product integrity that matter to both the brand and the customer’Calling all fashion models … now AI is coming for you Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Many of us aren’t saving enough for retirement. But there are ways to fix this
Those lucky enough to have disposable income can forgo immediate gain to attain a comfortable retirement It was recently reported that nearly half of the members of my generation are delaying retirement as rising costs and stagnant wages are draining savings. Even worse, a new Gallup poll found that as many as 69% of all workers fear they’re not saving enough for retirement.I get it. I feel it too. But whose fault is this, really? The government? Businesses? I think it’s time we all look in the mirror. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘It’s never enough’: young Americans struggle to build financial independence as cost of living spikes
A difficult job market and rising costs are making it harder for young adults to enter adulthoodYoung people are already facing the worst entry-level job market since the start of the pandemic and significant economic instability.But overall economic conditions are making it more challenging for those just entering adulthood. More than eight in 10 young adults rate the economy as “bad” or “terrible”, according to a recent survey conducted with more than 1,000 18- to 34-year-olds around the US by Generation Lab, a research firm studying young people. While young adulthood is known as a time for establishing independence and responsibility, many are attempting to do so amid cuts to social safety net programs and the ever-increasing costs of basic needs like gas and groceries. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘The potential is huge’: Plymouth hopes defence money will have it sailing again
Local leaders are optimistic investment and regeneration plans will help make ‘ocean city’ an appealing place to livePlymouth may only have been rebranded as “Britain’s ocean city” in recent years, but its role as a centre of UK defence can be traced back to the 16th century thanks to its strategic location on Devon’s south coast. Sir Francis Drake set sail from Plymouth on his circumnavigation of the globe and it was here the Pilgrims finally departed England for America on board the Mayflower.In more recent decades, a dependence on the defence sector no longer seemed an asset, as spending cuts and the loss of dockyard jobs forced the city with a proud maritime history to square up to a new foe: economic uncertainty. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
The household battery revolution that could change energy bills … and the world
Australia is pioneering a revolution in home renewables and battery use, proving what is possible with the right policiesThe timing was rich with symbolism. As intense heatwaves pummelled Europe and Asia, and oil markets around the world leapt and sputtered, the two big chimneys of one of Australia’s largest power stations were being demolished. Meanwhile, the Australian energy minister was holding a media conference to hail a fall of up to 10% in the benchmark electricity price in parts of the country.Quietly, and with surprisingly little fanfare from the rest of the world, Australia is pioneering a revolution in home renewables and battery use, proving what is possible with the right policies. The country was already one of the global leaders in domestic solar power, with panels on one in three homes. It also remains, however, a major contributor to the climate crisis through its vast fossil fuel exports. But it is batteries that are giving Australia a new burst of speed. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Why Britain's notoriously bad train wi-fi might soon be a thing of the past
How bad is the signal on our trains? We spoke to commuters to find out.
bbc.com
Ferrari wanted to take on Chinese EVs with the Luce - then the backlash started
The brand's first EV has been heavily criticised, with some saying it has abandoned Ferrari's roots.
theguardian.com
What’s gone wrong at Everyman and can the luxury cinema chain regain its magic?
More competition and loss-making sites are among the challenges for the new turnaround chief executiveWith its comfy sofas and a menu of gourmet treats including Béarnaise smash burgers and trendy Whispering Angel rosé wine at £47 a bottle, Everyman has thrived as the go-to chain for a luxury cinema trip.Yet a quarter of a century after reinventing the movie-going experience, growing from a single venue in Hampstead in London to a national player with 49 sites, the arthouse chain finds itself struggling as rivals ape its successful formula. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Tickets for festivals are getting more expensive - we compared them
Reading and Leeds, Glastonbury, Parklife and Download have surged in price.
bbc.com
Humanoid robots 'the future' of car making, says BMW
BMW is introducing humanoid robots to a car plant in Europe, building on similar projects in the US.
bbc.com
Is 'out of control' US tipping culture spreading overseas?
With US waiting staff getting cross at receiving less than 20%, tips are also on the rise elsewhere.
bbc.com
How a rise in energy bills will affect you from July
Household energy prices will rise by 13% a year in July, as soaring wholesale costs caused by the US-Israel war with Iran hit bills for the first time.
bbc.com
Why it's now harder to get a Saturday job
The boss of Next has warned there has been a "dramatic fall" in the number of entry-level job opportunities in the UK.
bbc.com
The rise of the fruit that tastes like custard
Custard apple plants are prized for their hardiness but exporting their delicate fruit is difficult.
bbc.com
This beach hut costs the same as a three-bedroom house
A beach hut has gone on the market for £200,000 - the same price as some houses further along the Welsh coast.
bbc.com
Morocco wants tourists to visit Western Sahara. Some say it's tightening its control
The Moroccan government wants more Western holidaymakers to visit the territory it claims to own.
bbc.com
'Six eggs used to be £1' - why everyday essentials cost so much more now
Six supermarket brand eggs cost £1 in 2022. How much are they now, why have they gone up, and is anyone profiteering?
bbc.com
The Leeds designer outlet that's 15 miles from Leeds
A rebrand of the junction 32 retail park off the M62 has gone down poorly with some locals in Castleford.
bbc.com
Why are unpaid debt court cases rising?
Why are unpaid debt court cases rising?
bbc.com
Love factually: Dating start-ups promise to cut the cheats
Frustration with fake dating profiles has spurred new dating services with different approaches.
bbc.com
The fight against foreign developers buying Caribbean beaches
Campaigners in Barbuda, Grenada and Jamaica say they can no longer access their coastlines.
bbc.com
Robo-top: The machines that could make your next t-shirt
Most clothes are made in Asia, but new machines could bring some of that work back to the West.
bbc.com
Why does Amazon have no Western rivals?
The internet giant dwarfs other online retailers on both sides of the Atlantic.
bbc.com
Rise in solar panel sales as people 'want to save money'
One director, who has just bought 2,000 panels, hopes to safeguard the company's future bills.
bbc.com
Inside the secretive and lucrative world of orchid breeding
It can take a decade to bring a new orchid to market, so breeders keep their hi-tech processes secret.
bbc.com
Smart glasses are 'an invasion of privacy' - Meta's are selling better than ever
The biggest tech firms are set to sell millions of smart glasses despite growing privacy concerns.
bbc.com
The threat to summer holidays looming from jet fuel shortages
What impact might shortages have on our summer holidays - and what could be done about it?
bbc.com
Scammers are becoming ever more sophisticated - this is what the fightback looks like
Scams have exploded over the last few years. Can countries and companies come together to turn the tables on the scammers?
bbc.com
The £5.30 orange juice that tells the story of why supermarket prices are sky high
Butter, chocolate, coffee and milk have all seen prices rocket. Tracing back through the story of one particular supermarket staple begins to explain why
bbc.com
Prepare for turbulence - how a prolonged Middle East conflict could reshape how we fly
The Gulf's hub airports made long-distance travel cheaper - but now their future looks unclear.
bbc.com
Sir John Curtice: Why Labour's Brexit focus has shifted from Leavers to Remainers
Will the pursuit of a closer relationship with the EU risk courting electoral disaster by alienating Brexit-backing voters?
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